Gearing mechanism for washing machines



Dec. 9, 1930.

G. M. GIBSON 1,784,282

GEARING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Aug. 6. 1928 Patented Dec. 9, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFl'cE GEORGE M. GIBSON, F BELLA, IOWA, ASSIGlll'OIB. T0 WOODROUTWASHING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PELLA, IOWA, A. CORPORATION OF IOWA GEABING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Appncation mea August s, 192s. l serial No.' 291,824.

i The object of my invention is to provide a gearing mechanism for washing machines of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, which is easily manufactured and assembled, and when assembled is of compact l form. Y

y A further object is to provide in a washing machine mechanism, including an agitator shaft adapted to be oscillated, improved mechanism for oscillating the said agitator shaft and for reducing excessive noises caused by theback lash of the gear'mechanism.

A further object is toprovide in a wash-v ing machine mechanism, employing a reciprocating mechanism operated from a continuous rotary mechanism, improved means i for connecting the `rotating mechanism with the oscillating mechanism.

A further object is to provide a washing machine mechanism housed in a casing having upper and lower sections, which mayl be separated and so arranged that the gearing may be assembledin the separated sectlons and completely assembled by placing the sections together, and when so placed will form a grease tight compartment for the mechanism contained therein.

My invention consists in the construction,

arrangement and combination of the variousparts of theA device, whereby the objects `contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved mechanism showing the manner 1n which it is applied to a washing machine.'

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

vInthe drawings I have illustrated a washing machine having a tub 10 provided with a bottom 11 and supporting legs 12. A motor platform 13 is carried by the lower ends of the legs 12, on which is mounted an electric motor Y141 of the ordinary type having a belt pulley 15.

The washing machine bottom 11 is pro- 50 vided with a vertically arranged agitator view taken shaft 16 having one end projecting upwardly into the tub 10 and provided with an agitator. 17'adapted to oscillate about the axis of the shaft 16.

My im roved washing machine gearing is supporte in a casing comprising a bottom section 18 and a top section 19, said sections being supported below the bottom of the tub 10 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure '1. Said casing is supported by brackets 20 secured to the tub 10 by suitable bolts or rivets.

The sections 18 and 19 are provided with flanges 21 and 22 secured together by bolts 23. The bottom section 18 has bearings 24, 25 and 26. The bearing 24 is designed to support the lower end of the agitator "shaft 16 which projects through a bearing 27 in the top'section. The said agitator shaft 16 has a rock arm 28 fixed to said shaft. The 70 outer end of the rock arm is provided with a vertically arranged opening 29.

The bearing 25 is provided with a vertically arranged shaft 30 designed to support a crank gear 31 having an opening 32. The distance between the center of the shaft 25 and the center of the vopening 32 is less than the distance between the center of the shaft 16 and the opening 29.

Said openings 29 and 32 are designed to receive wrist pins 33 and 34 of a link l35. Said wrist pins are supported in a common plane with the said link and parallel with each other and project in the same direction, so that the link may be easily and quickly placed in position with the pins 33 and 34 in the openings 32 and 29. When the top section of the casing is removed, the link is mounted close to the top and needs no other means for retaining the pins in their respective openings.

Rotatively supported in the bearing 26 is a vertical shaft 36, which also extends upwardly through the top of the section 19-and is provided at its -lower end with a worm gear 37 fixed thereto. The worm gear 37 is designed tomesh with a worm pinion 38 mounted on a horizontally arranged driving shaft 39, which has -its outer end provided with a belt pulley 40 designed 4to carry a 100 belt 41 driven from the motor lpulley 15. The upper face of the worm gear 37 is provided witha series of radially arranged and upwardly projecting lugs 42. The central portion of the gear 37 is provided with a hub 43, the upper end of which is provided with a friction face 44.

Slidably and rotatively mounted on v the shaft 36 is a gear 45 in mesh with the gear 31, and having its under side provided with notches 46 for receiving the lugs 42 of the gear 37. The central portion of the gear 45 is provided with a friction surface to engage the frictionsurface 44 of the gear 37, at the Vtime the lugs 42 are in the notches 46. The lugs 42 are so proportioned that a slight clearance is provided between the top of the lugs and the bottom of the notches 46 to permit the two friction surfaces to be brought into contact. Said surfaces are yieldably supported in frictional relation by means of a spring 47 on the shaft 36, one end of which rests against the top of the casing 19 and ,the other end against the gear 45.

The upper side of the gear 45 is provided with a hub 48 having an annular groove 49 for receiving a yoke 50 mounted on the lower end of a vertically arranged operating rod 51, said rod being slidably mounted inthe top of the casing 19.

The parts are so arranged that as the rod 51 is elevated, the gear 45 will also be elevated, so that the lugs 42 will be drawn out of the notches 46. Thereby providing means whereby the gears 45 and 37 may be thrown out of operative relation with each other, and provides means for throwing the washing machine into and out of operation. The gears 3l and 45 are of such width that when the gear 45 is at its upper limit of movement, the teeth of said gears will still be in mesh.

By this arrangement it will be seen that if the gear 45 is moved to its lower limit of movement, the friction faces between said gears will be supported in frictional contact,

and if the motor 14 is operated the worm 38 will be rotated through the belt 41 and in turn the gear 45 rotated, causing the gear 31 to rotate and the arm 28 to be oscillated through the link 35, which in turn will oscillate the agitator shaft 16.

It will Ive seen that as the gear 31 is rotated and the pin 33 of the link 35 passes dead center, then reverse movement will be imparted to the. link 35, which will cause a clicking between the teeth of the gears 45 and 31, due to the back lash of said gears. This clicking sound is annoying as well as destructive to the gear teeth. y

By providing frictional contact between the frictional surfaces of the gears 45 and 37, I have provided means whereby excessive knocking between the teeth will be modified, and at the same time eliminating the clicking noise, and thereby prolonging the life of the gears as well as eliminating .the disagreeable noise. f

'My gear mechanism is assembled by first -mounting the agitator shaft 16 together with its arm 28 in the bearing 24, then mounting .casing 18 with the lower end of the shaft 36 in the bearing 26, and the gear 45 in mesh with the 'gear 31, and the gear 37 in mesh with the gear 38. y

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a washing machine gear of comparatively cheap construction, due to its simplicity and which may be easily and quickly assembled, and when assembled is very positive in its operation, and in which excessive wear and noise, due to reversing of the oscillating mechanism, are largely eliminated.

I claim as my invention:

1. A gearing mechanism for washing machines including a shaft having a continuous driving member, one face of said member being provided with laterallyproje'cting radial lugs and a friction surface, a driven member rotatively mounted and adapted to move toward'and from the first said member andA provided with notches for receiving lugs of the first said member, and a friction surface for coactingwith the -first friction surface, an agitator shaft, means operated by the driven member for imparting a rotary oscillatory v movement to said agitatorshaft, and means y friction surface of `/the driving member,

means for yieldably supporting said friction surfaces in operative relation when the clutch elements are in operative relation, means for throwing said clutch elements and said friction elements out of operative relation, an agitator shaft, and vmeans actuated by said driven member for imparting a rotary oscillatory movement to said agitator shaft.

3. A gearing mechanism for washing machines comprising a casing divided into upper and lower sections, a horizontal driving sha ft Arotatively mounted in the lower section, a

worm pinion on said shaft, a vertical shaft rotatively mounted in said upper and lower meuse l'ing its under surface provided with notches for receiving the lugs ofthe first said gear, a

second vertical shaft, a crank gear on said l secondshaft 1n mesh with sa1d spur gear, am

vertical agitator shaft having a rock arm,

provided with an opening in its free end, said crank gear also being provided with an open- A ing, a link having a laterally projecting wrist pin at each end, said wrist pins being mounted in-.said openingsfor operatively connecting said crank gear and sa1d arm, means for sliding the spur gear toward land from Athe worm 'gear to cause the lugs to engage .and disengage said notches, and means for yielding@ '1y retaining the driven gear at its inner 'of movement. j i v 4. A.' gearl mechanism for washing machines comprising a casing divided into upper and lower sections, a' horizontally arranged shaft rotatively mounted in the lower section,

a worm pinion on said shaft, a vertical shaft rotatively mounted in said upper an'dlower sections, a Wormv gear on said shaft in mesh with said worm plnion, the up r surface of said worm gear having upwar y projecting lugs and a friction surface, a spur gear rota-l tively and slidably mounted on said vertical shaft having its under surface provided-with notchesvfor receiving the lugs of the rstsaid gear, and a friction `surface to coact. withthe first said friction surface, yieldable means for retaining said friction surfaces in operative relation, means for separating said friction surfaces and said lugs and notches,- a second vertical shaft, a crank gear-mounted on said secondshaft in mesh withthe said driven gear, an agitator shaft having a rock arm, and a link for operatively connecting the free end of. said arm with said vlcrank gear. l 5. In a gearing device for washing machines, a supporting casing, a drivingmember mounted to rotate continuously including a clutch element'and a frictionl surface, a-

driven member rotatively mounted concentrica'lly with and adjacent tothe drivingelement having a clutch element and a friction surface to coact with the clutch element and friction surface of theV driving member,

Ameans for -yieldably supporting said friction surfaces in operative relation when the-clutch elements are in operative relation, means for ymovin the clutch element and friction surface o one member out of operative relation with the clutch element and friction surface of the other member, an agitator shaft, and

means-'actuated by said driven member 'for'V imparting rotary oscillatory movement to said agitator shaft.' Des Moines, Iowa, May 17, 1928.

GEQRGE M. Grissom 

